Looking After Hermit Crabs - Easy Hermit Crab Care
By Mr Mark S Sanderson
A simple guide to caring for and enjoying Hermit Crabs
Looking after Hermit Crabs the easy way!
If you own, or are thinking getting one of these interesting pets, you may be having difficulty finding information on looking after hermit crabs. Well look no further! This simple guide will answer all your questions.
An appropriately sized cage, tank or aquarium is essential. Purchase a tank which can hold at least two crabs, minimum ten gallons.
The temperature of your tank should be between 70 and 85 degrees. Low temperatures can be very harmful for hermit crabs and could even kill them.
70% humidity or higher. Hermit crabs enjoy warm, moist, almost tropical environments.
A substratum level which is deep enough for the crabs to bury themselves If you are using a heater to keep the tank warm, the thickness of the substratum may interfere with it. Make sure you check the temperature with a thermometer.
Your tank should be an interesting place for the crabs to live. Decorate it with shells (very important!), rocks, plants, and toys for your crabs.
The substratum of your tank should ideally be sand. Do check your substratum before putting it in the tank for any impurities or unwelcome visitors!
Hermit crabs will eat almost any kind of food. You can feed them fruits, vegetables, and even meat! Sugary, spicy and processed foods should be avoided. Foods which may go off should be taken out of the tank after a day or two.
Keep some extra shells in the tank for when your hermit crabs decide they want to molt. The shells should be a little bigger than their present shells so that they have something to grow into.
If you crab looks dead, don't immediately throw him out. He may just be molting. He may even stop moving for a week. The best way to check is with your nose. If there isn't a fishy smell, he's probably ok.
Every tank needs two bowls of water, one fresh water and one salt water. The bowls should be deep enough for the crabs to bath and if you use tap water it should be dechlorinated.Every tank needs two bowls of water, one fresh water and one salt water. The bowls should be deep enough for the crabs to bath and if you use tap water it should be dechlorinated.
That's all. Good luck and enjoy looking after hermit crabs!
Mark S. Sanderson is a science teacher and animal enthusiast. Learn more about easy hermit crab care
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Submitted by Mr Mark S Sanderson 2009-09-27 09:04:12
Category: Pets
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